March 31, 2012 avalanche in Elkford.

[ferniesnow]

March 31 avalanche in Smith Basin. Actually two of them side by side.

Huge Avalanches in Elkford BC - YouTube

 

[Summitric]

That thar is 2 big avy's........... Sure hope no one is under that one..............

 

[ferniesnow]

That thar is 2 big avy's........... Sure hope no one is under that one..............

me also.....that would be some big chore, eh!

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

Wow that is huge! I just recently took my AST 1 and am still learning more and more, so I have some questions for the guys in the know. It looks like the whole snow pack came down, is this due to depth hoar in this instance? It also looks like it is the lee side of the slope and there would be heavy snow loading at the top. If I remember correctly there is usually a weak spot in the snow under the cornice because the snow blows slightly past before it falls and there is an area of shallow snow trying to support the whole hill. I am guessing this is a natural? Would it have been caused by a cornice breaking and shearing the slab which then propagated the entire face?

Let me know if I am on the right track. I am open to criticism so no need to put on the flame suit LOL.

 

[snopro]

No need for an avybag or beacon with those slides. Better to call out to your "maker".

 

[blastoff]

Nice editing work. I wish had the time for that.

 

[ferniesnow]

Wow that is huge! I just recently took my AST 1 and am still learning more and more, so I have some questions for the guys in the know. It looks like the whole snow pack came down, is this due to depth hoar in this instance? It also looks like it is the lee side of the slope and there would be heavy snow loading at the top. If I remember correctly there is usually a weak spot in the snow under the cornice because the snow blows slightly past before it falls and there is an area of shallow snow trying to support the whole hill. I am guessing this is a natural? Would it have been caused by a cornice breaking and shearing the slab which then propagated the entire face?

Let me know if I am on the right track. I am open to criticism so no need to put on the flame suit LOL.

I don't know about the "guy in the know". Yes, it cleaned out to the ground. We had a lot of facets on the ground and earlier in the year it was a problem. I don't recall what was cleaned out the last time this slid. Definitely, the loaded side got too heavy. You can see where a cornice broke and there is a big fracture line at the crown (after looking at the pictures/video) the CAC thought it was 100cm. It was a lot more than 100cm! In fairness, I have a lot more time looking at the pictures and video. East facing and westerly winds are the norm. From that basin and to another south of there, there was 16"-30" of fresh snow from the storm on Thursday/Friday. Quite a load.

 

[RGM]

Looks like from the shadows from the trees it was a southerly exposure. My guess is that heating from the sun triggered it, possibly a chunk of cornice let go.

 

[Doof]

@26 seconds... Yikes!

 

[ferniesnow]

@26 seconds... Yikes!

Isn't that the truth. I sent that to the CAC and they figured that was 100cm. An awful lot more than that as I was halfway across the valley on 40 zoom. I would have guessed in meters and not centimeters.

 

[ferniesnow]

Looks like from the shadows from the trees it was a southerly exposure. My guess is that heating from the sun triggered it, possibly a chunk of cornice let go.

The particular slope is east facing and the ridge is pretty much in the open with a lot of sun on it. I would agree on the solar radiation but it may have been wind loaded also. There is a cornice chunk missing and another corner of a cornice that broke away. The valley runs due north and south. As you can see from the GoogleEarth image, is a pretty wicked place.

 

[thiels2]

Came out and rode sat and was really deep good day just wondering if the trail crossings came down yet? Seen no tracks going into smiths basin that day which is a good thing couldn't imagine going in there given the scary conditions..

 

[ferniesnow]

Came out and rode sat and was really deep good day just wondering if the trail crossings came down yet? Seen no tracks going into smiths basin that day which is a good thing couldn't imagine going in there given the scary conditions..

The avi's on the trail were cleaned up on March 12 and nothing serious has come down since. A little sluffing up high. I don't think there is a lot of snow in the chutes as it pretty much cleaned out everything in early March. It always pays to be careful going through the runout though; one at a time and be diligent.

There were no tracks on Sunday either but I decided to go as the new snow had a few days to settle out. Drew a line in the snow in the back basin and no one was to cross it. Everyone listened and I suppose that the initial avalanches that were so big had some attention getting qualities. Sure nice to take a group in there and not have to worry about someone sneaking a poke.

 

[pipes]

WOW. I have a video clip of me taking a poke up that chute in 2010. Not nearly as much snow back then. Sure is an Eye opener.

 

[thiels2]

Ya fair enough that is prob the biggest fracture I have ever seen clearly more than 100 cm

 

[ferniesnow]

WOW. I have a video clip of me taking a poke up that chute in 2010. Not nearly as much snow back then. Sure is an Eye opener.

Yes, a pretty popular place for some! It is for that reason I play mostly in the trees. The climbs in the area are pretty big and there is lots of snow on them (every year) so I play safe. It just makes me shake my head when I see what guys/gals are climbing these days with the power in the newer sleds. I don't have a lot of years left in this sport and I am gonna enjoy it as best I can. I like the trees and it is nice to be able to come down the mountain at the end of the day with a big smile on my face instead of.......

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

That is just Scary...

 

[Trax 2 Treadz]

That debris pile is huge!!!!

Jan

 

[ferniesnow]

Got back into Smith on Good Friday and took some pictures I missed.....the wind/dust blew the branches off this tree 8' or 2m+ up, a 16" or 40 cm tree stump, and the debris is a long way into the bush and down into the creek.